Sounders FC’s national team trio returns, expected to be available Saturday at RSL

The Sounders returned to action Thursday with some familiar faces back for the first time in a while.

Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans have returned from duty with the U.S. national team, which went 3-0 in FIFA World Cup qualifying the past month. Mario Martinez was also back from serving with Honduras, which went 1-2.

All three were in action Tuesday, as the U.S. beat Honduras 1-0 in Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

“It was good (to get them back),” coach Sigi Schmid said. “Most of them played 90 minutes or were close to 90 minutes — Mario played the least — so it was important for them just to have a regen day today with the travel yesterday and all that. It was good. They got the work in that they needed.”

So will they be available for Sounders FC’s road game Saturday at Real Salt Lake?

“Yeah, we think they’ll all three be ready to go,” Schmid said. “It’s just a matter of how we intend to use them.”

Here is Johnson: “Man, I’m ready to go. The team has been playing well, and I think right now it’s all about being on the right page. Our team has formed a lot of chemistry and been doing well since we’ve been away, so if it’s coming off the bench or if it’s starting, whatever my role is I’m going to go out and give my best. If it’s coming off the bench, I’m off the bench, because our two strikers are hot right now. They’re scoring goals and you don’t want to break their rhythm.”

And Evans: “I’m ready to go, yeah. I’m ready to start — wherever that may be. Obviously (RSL is) a team that has our number the past game or two, not counting the last playoff victory. But yeah I think the last game (there) was tough for us. We didn’t adjust well or stick with the game plan. Even saying that, I thought we had a couple chances. And now we have everyone healthy, so we’ll see what we do this weekend.”